Who's got the best frequent-flier program? The top hotel
reward program? How about the number-one affinity card? Depends on
who you ask--and who you are.

Randy Petersen, editor of InsideFlyer magazine, polls his
readers on these subjects every year. This time around, the top
picks included Continental OnePass and Marriott Rewards.

But selecting the program that's right for you isn't as
easy as looking at the list of winners, warns Petersen. "When
choosing a program, you have to take a number of things into
consideration," he says.

Such as? Geography, for one. Determine which airlines offer the
most flights to your closest airports or which hotel chain is best
represented in the places you travel to. It makes no sense to start
collecting miles with a supplier you'll rarely use.

Another factor is alliances, says Petersen. It isn't enough
to look at a program on its own. Find out which other airlines or
hotels you can collect points with as a member of the program. That
way, even if you're not using your preferred airline, you can
still rack up mileage credits.

"Talk to other people who are travelers in your area,"
suggests Petersen. "Ask them about their own experience. Get
their advice."

What if it turns out to be bad advice? Don't worry, you can
always switch programs. Often, an airline will even let you
transfer your elite mileage status from another airplane, meaning
you don't have to start from the beginning when you jump
ship.

Fall Fantasy

Leaving business behind to celebrate autumn

New England is one of the most popular travel destinations from
Labor Day to Halloween, when the leaves turn from green to bright
orange to brown and fall from the trees. If you want to catch the
foliage fireworks this year, it's time to make a few phone
calls.

"Plan as far in advance as you can," says Laura Simoes
of the New Hampshire Office of Travel and Tourism Development. Some
well-known inns sell out as much as a year in advance, but during
late summer, there are still plenty of good choices, she notes.

Another tip: Take advantage of a state's tourism
resources. Most of the New England states, for example, offer
weekly updates on foliage conditions, hotlines for booking hotel
rooms during peak season, and Web sites with all the information on
how to see the most leaves.

In The Know

The last word on essential travel tips for
entrepreneurs

The Unofficial Business Traveler's Pocket
Guide (McGraw-Hill) is the bestselling follow-up to CNN travel
expert Christopher J. McGinnis' 202 Tips Even the Best
Business Travelers May Not Know. In the book, the Atlanta
travel consultant reveals how to land an upgrade, which hotel rooms
are the safest, how to secure the best rental car in the lot and
where to get useful information on travel. McGinnis' clever and
common-sense approach to corporate travel makes for a must-read
before taking a trip.

Road Notes

On August 17, US Airways will launch daily nonstop round-trip
service between Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport and
both Logan International Airport in Boston and Washington's
Reagan National Airport. The carrier will operate three daily
nonstop flights between Atlanta and each of the two airports.

Hertz has created a new Web site for its truck and van
division: http://www.hertztrucks.com The
site offers businesses a quick and easy means of renting a truck or
van online. It now also has a dedicated toll-free number
(888-999-5500) for its truck and van division.